26.3.08

On Bhai I am the youngest in the family nest. I have had the advantage of learning from not just Mom Dad, but Bhaiya and Didi too. Contribution of a parent is something beyond me, something beyond words, something so dignified that it can't be posted in a mere blog.Didi, you have always been my strength. The one who makes me feel that I'm worth something. You instill confidence in me,your undying trust in me makes me want to perform better.And Bhai, well, I really don't know what to say. If I have anything to my name today, its because of you. I used to feel elated when people said that my style of talking is just like yours. I am not so surprised anymore. You were the one who taught me how to talk.

On PeopleEver held back because you were afraid of how the other person might feel about you if you gave him a piece of your mind? I have come to realise that whether you say it or not, it won't make a difference. So just say it and get it out of your system. Nothing can change the fact that they would remain ignorant, and indignantly so!Dubes once told me...in an unbelievable moment of truth...to keep in mind a set of people who matter to you, and for those who are not in that circle...adios amigos. That one statement changed me as a person. All those who are not in that circle of mine...you have a lot of growing up to do. I wish you all the best in life. I hope you get some sense soon. Here's a four letter word for you. Ciao.

On MBAThings have taken a turn for the better for our family. I am proud to have contributed to this 'Jain Shining' (reference to India Shining, not Jack Nicholson's The Shining you creeps).I first became a Mamaji(15th December 2007, our little crying bundle of joy), then a Devar (can't wait for the title to be bestowed on me officially, July 11th is d-day), now I'm all set to become an MBA. This last bit of news is what we would be focusing on today, so if you have had a good dose of jainzy's gloating in the past few days, I suggest you turn to your facebooking and orkutting right about...now.

Can an exam change your life? Does an educational institute have the power of changing you?I would answer "yes". Well my preps for an MBA had started about 3 years ago, when I wanted an MBA degree to earn more money. To go for it because I knew I had to, without rhyme or reason. 2 failures it took. And then there was light. There was a reason. I understood my place in the industry. I was warming up to the idea that I am a part of a workforce which is putting India on the map. In my own insignificant way, I am a part of the Indian industry. That my 2 years in the IT field have not been futile. I could sense logic. I didn't want to go in for Marketing any more. I used to think it would be a really cool thing to do. That probably would have been my most coherent reply to the question 'Why MBA' a year ago. As lame as they come. And then, introspection led me to my career path. Everything made sense. Everything showed logic. IT Systems as a specialization dawned clear as an area where I would love to dedicate my work life to. It appealed to me. Simple.

Its easy to be deaf-mute, to continue with one's job in a humdrum fashion, continue cribbing about not enough pay, too much work. But as my team's coffee time conversations shifted from Mohun-Bagan East-Bengal and Sourav Da blah blah and Singur-Nandigram to Cognizant's USP and its profit margin and its attrition rate and its core competencies, my project's revenue, its profit margin, Cognizant's most favoured clientèle etc, I noticed that in these conversations, it was the managers who spoke, while I asked, and my colleagues yawned. I would get back to my cubicle with a sense of purpose, aware of my role, aware of how I was in the right industry, but a role which I had outgrown. All the while I pitied myself for not knowing the company I worked for all these years. So did an MBA offer change me? Pursuing it certainly did.

Apart from that, I am quite frank when I say that a call from NITIE was like a third-party certification. You won't believe how incredibly down I was after the interview; it had lasted a paltry 5 minutes. After all the preparation, when I had truly felt that I am ready, it seemed I just wasn't given a chance. But the powers that be, decided in my favour, and I felt redeemed. So here I am, a step closer to my dream. Yes, the convert did instill in me a faith in myself, which I admit had visibly faded. All in all, right now, I don't feel happy, relieved, content, satisfied. I just feel incredibly excited. Turbo-charged. Can't wait for student life to begin again.

23.1.08

With the MBA exams all behind me, I finally got down to business, that of watching 3 movies a day. Most of them are movies that you have seen ages ago. I hadn't, so currently I'm only trying to be up to date. Its not an easy job, I tell you.

1. Citizen Kane: I remember trying to watch it while I was in Hostel. Finally got down to it. Loved it. Every bit of it. There are so many movies made on individuals. The best among them is Schindler's List, but of course it was about much more than just the man. What i noticed about it that there was no drama. Dialogue was as easily delivered as a normal conversation.

2. Apocalypse Now: Shows how a mind degenerates. While the entire movie gets darker and darker, and as the explorers move deeper and deeper into the woods, you can actually feel the rotting of the brain and all the senses, eventually culminating in an extravaganza of madness displayed perfectly by ze Godfather.

3. Saving Private Ryan: Finally saw it. Heh heh. I don't know how Americans can be so good at making war movies. One of the best. Without doubt. You can watch "Band of Brothers" too, a 10 episode series based on the Normandy paratroopers.

4. Letters from Iwo Jima: Clint Eastwood is a genius. The first movie I have seen with the Japanese perspective of the War. Powerful performances, compelling narration and a heart-moving story, looking forward to watching the American perspective in Flags of Our Fatherswhich was incidentally released on the same day and was incidentally directed by Clint Eastwood.

5. Seven: The mind of a psychopath killer. Compelling stuff. Still can't get over the fact that Spacey shows up. (Ha ha ha...no point watching the movie now fellas :) )

8. Freedom Writers: Dunno if you have seen dangerous minds, but its clearly the same thing. Only its about a different person, and very very moving. Its made brilliantly and definitely worth at least two watches. Our million dollar baby does a lot a justice to the role, equal to, if not better, Michelle Pfieffer. Gonna read the book too.

9. L.A. Confidential: Wow man. Thats showbiz. Its got everything you could ask for in a movie. Made in India, it would have been a masala flick. But it won't cease to amaze you at any given moment. High tension throughout the movie. Powerful Performances again. Spacey you would expect, Crowe you would expect, Guy Pierce was awesome indeed. Kim Bassinger was hot...and how!!

18.1.08

We all know how the sport drives us. Cricketers in India are next only to God. I say God because Lord Krishna or Mahaveer Swami, in their individual capacities, might not have that big a fan following as Sachin does. Something quite evident in the uproar over the entire 'monkey' fiasco. We didn't give in to bullying. We sure showed them that we are not going to let anyone down under intimidate us with their sledging and their holier-than-thou attitude. But did we?

The way I see things, Hogg plays while Bhajji sits.

So what was the hulla-balloo all about? I get a feeling that it was not just the belief that we were right and they were wrong, the age old good vs evil battle. I sensed a hint of indignation. I doubt the reaction would have been this strong had the accusations of racism come from a small fry (Strictly in terms of Cricket only) like Bangladesh. There was an undertone to everything I read that was being said by the Indian authorities. It went something like this:Oh you think you can be the endearing naughty boys who win all the time? You think you win because of your talent? See how it feels when you get a taste of your own medicine? Take that, and that... Bam bam bam.

I guess we felt the maximum shock wave of the whole racist controversy because we were in the thick of things. We as Indians were at no fault of our own, and so we were indignant at being called something we are not. We are not racists, and we want the world to know about it, not by proving our point on a political field, not by setting an example of how good natured we have become despite casteism being in our blood, but1. by screaming our lungs hoarse that Bhajji didn't say the M word because we as Indians are tolerant, and2. by flexing a strong arm, by threatening the ICC via BCCI because we have financial control over world cricket. And this is how we redeem ourselves, wronged by the all powerful, this is how we rise from the ashes.

But strong responses like these are evoked only when we are facing the brunt. Had Brian Lara called Salman Butt a f******* Paki, we might have just taken it with a pinch of salt, probably even delight.

Here is my take on the situation, and advice to the BCCI: When you start a job, finish it. If you have the guts to call off the tour, do it. Don't wait for a response. Don't threaten if you cannot carry it off. All the while you say that you will not let Bhajji be labeled a racist, the 3rd test is on and Harbhajan is on the bench. I wonder what's going on in his mind.You are very much in Canberra. And you are goddamn well gonna play the one day series too and you know it. Then what was the entire junkload of crap that you bestowed on the world about not taking no for an answer? Get some sense.

Cricket may be a religion, but only in India. Australians have the choice to pick their sports idols from a vast range of individuals spanning sports like Rugby, Tennis, Baseball, Athletics, Cricket et al.

How is this for statistics:No. of countries on the earth: 194 (that or thereabout).No. of test playing nations : 10.

Cricket is small fry for the world and personally for me too. Lets keep it that way and not let things get out of proportion.

ps: (This is where you would expect a disclaimer to come. Sorry to not disappoint. ) I still whoop for joy when India wins. I agree I can't name 11 non-cricket athletes from India. But I treat cricket as a sport. An entertainment medium. That's all folks !!

5.1.08

A new year, a new me. We break the time honoured tradition of naming posts after songs, and include movie names as well into this elite category. My brother suggested that after you have seen a movie, go to IMDb and read through the trivia section, and then watch the movie again. I'm sure many of you out there do it. I never have before, just go through the plot synopsis before watching the movie so I know what kind of a ride I'm in for.But the lord spoketh, and I started with the example he gave me. And my-oh-my, it has inspired me to start blogging again.

Fight Club. Nice movie. I would say excellent movie. But after I have been through IMDb, I say "What kind of a maniacal psycho demented ruddy brilliant movie is this??"

What you see below is just one of the many many hidden gems in the entire story. Few of them, are too grown up for this blog :) So here it goes...

Did you know that Tyler appears in the movie a total of 5 times?? Hold on...I mean 5 times before you actually see him on the airport for the 'first' time. Here is a small list. Took me some practice to get the screenshots. I have pasted two for each occurrence. The first is the frame just before/just after the easter egg frame. Please appreciate, it happens literally for a split second.

1.a. First, at the xerox place.

1.b. and the very next frame shows

2.a. All warmed up?? How about a visit to the doctor Mr. Jack (Edward Norton)??

2.b. Hey...surely 'that' is not a part of your prescription ?!?

3.a. You know this one time...at self help...

3.b. Someone came a-knocking

4.a. I met a man who wasn't there, he wasn't there again today...

4.b. I wish to God, he'd go away...

5. And finally...Where's the waiter??

THERE HE IS !!!

So you think you've seen the movie? Think again. These images are not copyrighted!! Sue me...again.